Business Connexion deputy CEO Benjamin Mophatlane says continuous training of the company`s workforce is one of the reasons it has been successful despite the general slump experienced by the ICT sector in the past five years.
"I believe this has given us a competitive-edge because in the ICT sector training needs to be continuous and that is very much part of our competitive strategy," said Mophatlane.
He was speaking at this week`s inauguration of a learnership programme for 120 learners set up in partnership between Business Connexion, the Durban Institute of Technology, and the ICT sector`s education training authority, ISETT SETA.
Speaking at the same occasion, ISETT SETA chief executive Oupa Mopaki said he believed learnerships were a truly effective way of achieving training objectives, providing the quality of workplace training was assured and there was a direct link between companies` training and skills needs to ensure employment opportunities.
"When learners are trained, employment opportunities must become available, otherwise we would be training for the sake of training," Mopaki said.
"Business Connexion agrees with the ISETT SETA that learnerships are an effective way of delivering skills and training, but that the emphasis should not be on achieving targets, but on providing quality workplace training and experience," said Mophatlane.
[VIDEO]Those taking part in the learnership programme announced this week will spend nine months working at Business Connexion to complete the experiential component of their learnership under the guidance of employees who have been trained in mentorship.
"This new learnership programme forms part of the well established policy of empowerment through training at Business Connexion. We believe Business Connexion will be able to offer employment to this current group and continue their training past the learnership," said Mophatlane.
Referring to future learnership programmes, Mophatlane indicated that Business Connexion would strive to offer employment to all learnership graduates by taking on learners only in terms of needs within the company and the ICT sector as a whole.
Mopaki said the ISETT SETA had completed a survey on skills shortages in the ICT sector with a view to quantifying the needs for particular skills. "We are now in a position to be able to advise companies how many people need to receive training in particular skills," he said.
"Business Connexion believes if organisations approach training in a practical and sincere manner, we should be able to deliver the skills required by the ICT industry," said Mophatlane.
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